Doha Prepares to Host Successful Formula 1 Grand Prix

Qatar Airways Formula 1 Grand Prix

Doha seeks to continue its success stories in the world of motorsports with the hosting of the Qatar Airways Formula 1 Grand Prix, the 23rd and penultimate round of the Formula 1 World Championship for the 2024 season.

The Qatar Grand Prix begins tomorrow, Friday, and will continue for three days under the floodlights of the Lusail International Circuit. Twenty of the world's best racing drivers will participate in 10 Formula 1 teams competing to win the title at the main race on Sunday evening.

For the second year in a row and third time in history, Doha will host the Formula 1 World Championship. Qatar hosted it for the first time in 2021 and assumed responsibility over a vacancy left by Australia due to COVID-19 restrictions.

The Qatar Grand Prix will be in the Formula 1 calendar for ten consecutive years, starting from 2023, as part of the partnership between Doha and Formula 1, which made Qatar an important annual destination for the world's largest motor racing event.

The first edition of the Qatar Grand Prix in 2021 witnessed the victory of seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton, outperforming his rival Max Verstappen, who went on to win the title that year for the first time in his career. He also won the subsequent titles in the following years since, making him a four-time world champion since 2021.

The second edition of the Qatar Grand Prix in 2023 saw Verstappen secure a first place podium and his third world title after winning in Doha, finishing ahead of McLaren drivers Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris, who finished second and third respectively.

This year's edition marks a race for the Constructor's Championship between the 10 Formula 1 teams, specifically McLaren and its drivers Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri currently first with 608 points, Ferrari with Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz in second place with 584 points, and Red Bull with Max Verstappen and Sergio Perez in third with 555 points.

Verstappen clinched his fourth world title last weekend in Las Vegas, finishing fifth in the Grand Prix after securing his position at the top of the standings with 403 points, 63 points ahead of his closest competitor, second placed Lando Norris, who had 340 points.

The battle for the constructors' title will be open between the top three, with McLaren holding on to the lead by just 24 points over Ferrari, which in turn is 29 points ahead of Red Bull.

McLaren did not deliver a strong race during the Las Vegas Grand Prix, while Ferrari succeeded in limiting losses by securing third and fourth places behind the 1-2 podium for the Mercedes duo of Lewis Hamilton and George Russell.

Russell dominated the race from the start, while his teammate, seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton, moved from 10th to 2nd. In contrast, Red Bull second driver Sergio Perez is still underperforming in a disastrous season for him.

The Lusail International Circuit, which has maintained its famous 5.380 km track after its redevelopment, is one of the most prominent circuits in the world, especially as it is one of the few circuits in the world that hosts a round of the Formula 1 World Championship and a round of the MotoGP World Championship.

By hosting the most prominent global events in motorsports, the Lusail Circuit contributed to introducing technology to the sport and changing the history of motorsports culture. It also changed the rules of the International Motorcycling Federation (FIM) from holding the championship with daytime rules to nighttime rules, after Qatar was the first country to hold a night race for the MotoGP.

The distinguished role played by the Lusail International Circuit since its establishment in 2004 has made it a pioneer in circuit sports over the years by providing a significant addition to motorsports, thanks to the support of officials and their keenness to provide all means to achieve success, which ultimately falls within Qatar National Vision 2030.

The Qatar Airways Formula 1 Grand Prix will kick off tomorrow, and the race program will be no different from other races, with official activity extending over three days from Friday to Sunday, with the final day hosting the main race at 7 p.m. Doha time.

On Friday morning, the drivers will participate in free practices, during which they will get to know the uniqueness of the circuit, and the second free practice will be held in the afternoon, separated by press conferences.

On Saturday, the drivers will compete to qualify for the sprint race, followed by the sprint race itself, the final one of its kind for this season. 

On Sunday, the drivers will take part in a third practice, followed by the final qualifiers to determine the starting positions in the main race, then finally the main event itself, held at 7 p.m. Doha time.

Last year, the Lusail Circuit underwent a comprehensive development process to increase the capacity of the stands to 40,000 spectators, with the provision of advanced building facilities and amenities with international specifications. However, no modifications were made to the track itself, which maintained its famous design, as it was only re-asphalted and provided with security and safety measures.

(QNA)